Car-seal.



V. G. SMITH.

CAR SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY2 5, 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

WITNESSES ATI'O RN EY HE NORklS PETERS 60.; PHOTO-Linda" WASHINGTON. D. C

Tl STATg FATEN @FFTQE VOORHEES GILBERT SMITH, OF IOLA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO LUTHER C. BEATTY, OF IOLA, KANSAS.

CAR-SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Voonnnns G. SMITH; a citizen of the United States, residing at Iola, in the county of Allen and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Car-Seal, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

The invention relates to improvements in car seals.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of car seals and to provide a simple, practical, and comparatively inexpensive seal, designed for use on cars and various articles, and equipped with a double automatic lock which will be impossible to open without detection.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which the car seal of the present invention is formed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the parts prior to securing the inner lateral enlargement to the side flanges of the outer lateral enlargement to form the casing. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the completed seal, ready for use. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a similar view, illustrating the arrangement of the parts when locked. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional perspective view, illustrating the manner of engaging the catch with the spaced locking hooks of the casing. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the car seal is formed from a single piece or blank of sheet metal and comprises in its construction a long narrow portion or strip 1 forming a tie and provided at one end with a longitudinal slot 2, the metal at opposite sides of the slot 2 being bent to form a pair of siaced locking hooks 3. The strip is widened at spaced points adjacent to the slot 2 to form inner and outer lateral enlargements at and 5, consisting of laterally projecting wings or portions and adapted to be formed into a casing. The outer enlargement, which is spaced from the hooks, has its wings or projecting portions bent to form angle flanges 6, which constitute the side walls of the casing. These flanges are approximately L-shaped in cross section, and the inner enlargement, which is connected with the outer enlargement by a narrow portion or neck 7, is bent over upon the angle flanges 6 and its side edges 8 are crimped or bent around the projecting portions of the flanges 6, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawing, and

are soldered to the same, so that it will be impossible to open the casing and disengage the locked parts without plainly indicating the fact that the seal has been tampered with.

The connecting neck portion 7 constitutes the outer end wall of the casing, which is closed at that point. The spaced locking hooks 3 are also connected with the casing at the outer end thereof by a short length of the strip, and this connecting portion 9 is bent inwardly to arrange the spaced hooks within the casing. It also serves to con strict the inner open end of the casing. The other end of the strip 1 is provided at opposite sides with notches 10, spaced from the adjacent end edge of the strip and forming a terminal approximately T-shaped portion, which constitutes a catch 11 for engaging with the interior locking hooks of the casing. The stem 12, which is relatively short, is bent back to cause the catch 11 to overlie the body portion of the strip, and the said catch is bent transversely to form an angularly disposed projecting lip 13. The seal, which is designed particularly for use on cars, is also adapted to be applied to various articles where a seal of this character is de sired, and the seal is locked by inserting the catch end of the strip into the open inner end of the casing. The catch end is moved inwardly past the spaced locking hooks, which are slightly deflected. After the catch has been moved inwardly beyond the locking hooks, it is then drawn outwardly, causing the hooks to pass between the catch and the body portion of the strip, the' connecting stem 12 of the. catch moving through the space betweenthe locking hooks. The bills of the hooks then spring outwardly,

, and confine the catch between them and the connecting portion 9, forming a double lock and rendering it impossible to disengage the parts without breaking the seal. The formation of the catch by the approximately T-shaped terminal portion having a short connecting stem does not reduce the width of the catch end of the strip after the catch is formed, so that the catch end of the strip extends entirely across the space between the side walls of the casing and prevents any lateral movement of the strip within the casing, so that the parts cannotbe manipulated in this manner to effect the disengagement of the locked portions. Also, the catch end of the strip nearly fills the inner open end of the casing, so that it will be difficult to introduce a wire into the open end of the casing without bending or marring the same and indicating the fact that it has been tampered with.

What is claimed is 1. A seal including a strip provided at one end in its side edges with opposite relatively narrow notches forming a terminal T- shaped portion having a relatively short stem located intermediate of the side edges of the strip, said terminal T-shaped portion being bent inwardly or rearwardly at the stem to form an overlying catch, a casing carried by the other end of the strip, and spaced'means located within the casing and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

end of the strip and having a projecting lip, said catch overlying the strip and connected therewith and the narrow stem thereof being adapted to pass betweenthe locking' hooks in engaging the catch therewith.

'3. A seal consisting'of a strip of sheet metal provided atone end with opposite narrow notches forming a T-shaped terminal catch portion, the stem thereof being bent backwardly and inwardly to cause the said'portion to form an overlying catch, the other end of the strip being longitudinally slotted and bent to form spaced locking hooks, said strip being also provided with spaced inner and outer enlargements having laterally projecting wings, the, wings of one of the enlargements being flanged and having the wings of the other enlargement bent around and secured to the flanges, saidenlargements forming a casing for the locking hooks, and the casing being open at one end to permit the catch to be engaged with the said hooks. H v r V In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. i

VOOBHEES GILBERT SMITH.

Witnesses: r f

W. G. KING, Gno. H. VAUerrr.

Commissioner of Batents, 

